Governor Chafee Joins Community College of Rhode Island and Ameresco
for Energy Efficiency Project Ribbon-Cutting

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at New England’s largest community college
showcases building improvements expected to save the school an estimated
$1.2 million annually

February 27, 2013 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

WARWICK, R.I. and FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ameresco
Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy
company, today joined with Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) to
host Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee and local leaders to commemorate the
completion of the first phase of a $14.8 million multi-phase Energy
Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) that encompasses four campuses.

During the ribbon-cutting event hosted at the Warwick-based Knight
Campus, CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian,
Rhode Island officials and Ameresco executives recognized the economic
and environmental benefits of the ESPC that is expected to save the
college an estimated $1.2 million annually.

"The energy efficiency improvements completed by CCRI and Ameresco
demonstrate the progress being made toward a more sustainable future for
Rhode Island," said Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee. "The approach used here is
an excellent example for other nonprofits and businesses throughout
Rhode Island of how to help our environment, our economy, and your
bottom line."

This budget-neutral project will enable the community college to apply
cost savings from energy-efficient equipment to help renew campus
facilities and building systems. Ameresco installed energy efficient
technology that will reduce energy and water costs while improving
CCRI’s overall sustainability efforts. Although the heaviest
concentration of efficiency work was completed at the Knight Campus,
CCRI’s four campuses all have received upgrades.

“As the largest community college in New England with a student
population of nearly 18,000, we recognized the need to evaluate and
reduce our overall environmental impact,” said CCRI President Ray Di
Pasquale. “Through our partnership with Ameresco, we have improved our
sustainability while also realizing significant cost savings that can be
reinvested in infrastructure to further enhance student life.”

“I am very pleased to join Gov. Chafee and President Di Pasquale as CCRI
celebrates completion of the first phase of this exciting project,” said
Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. “This will save the college a significant
amount of money annually and improve campus facilities, which is great
news for the college and its students, faculty and staff. Equally
important is that the numerous improvements that have been made will
help the college in its efforts to conserve our natural resources, which
sends a great message to CCRI’s students and the larger community about
the need to protect and preserve our environment.”

As part of the ESPC, Ameresco provided an alternative fuel source for
electricity by bringing natural gas service to both the Warwick and
Lincoln campuses. These upgrades will help to maintain consistent and
reasonable levels of occupant comfort and building functionality, which,
in turn, will reduce maintenance needs, improve indoor air quality,
lower energy consumption, and maximize the efficiency of the campus and
the comfort of its population without disturbing the college’s ongoing
educational operations.

“The Community College of Rhode Island is a forward-thinking institution
committed to environmental stewardship and we are very pleased to
partner with them on their sustainability initiatives,” said George P.
Sakellaris, President and CEO, Ameresco. “CCRI has undertaken projects
and infrastructure improvements that set the college at the forefront of
providing a better learning environment for its students and staff. In
addition to improvements on campus, the broader community also benefits
from local jobs and the local investment.”

Ameresco has a strong track record of partnering with institutions of
higher education across the nation to help them apply their strained
budgets wisely and facilitate needed improvements to their energy
infrastructure. The increasingly popular ESPC financing model allows the
customer to immediately reap the benefits of increased energy efficiency
in a budget-neutral manner by guaranteeing the energy savings will
exceed the initial investment of the project.

About CCRI

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community
college, has full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and
Newport and operates satellites in Westerly and at the Shepard Building
in Providence. CCRI enrolls an average of nearly 18,000 students
annually in credit courses and thousands more in noncredit and workforce
training classes and programs. For more information, visit www.ccri.edu/.

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent
provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure
upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for
facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s services include
upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development,
construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has
successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible
projects with federal, state and local governments, health care and
educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and
industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham,
Mass., Ameresco provides local expertise through its 63 offices in 34
states and five Canadian provinces. Ameresco has more than 900
employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.